Naomi Osaka Announces She’s Expecting Her First Child

Naomi Osaka took to Instagram to announce she will not be playing during the 2023 tennis season because she’s pregnant with her first child.

The four-time Grand Slam champion shared the news on Wednesday afternoon. She posted a photo of her ultrasound and wrote, “I realize that life is so short and I don’t take any moments for granted, everyday is a new blessing and adventure.” The 25-year-old continued, “One thing I’m looking forward to is for my kid to watch one of my matches and tell someone, ‘that’s my mom,’ haha.” The father is presumably Cordae, who the athlete has been linked to since 2019.

Osaka hasn’t won a title since the 2021 Australian open. Being a two-time champion, she also withdrew from the upcoming Australian Open. She has yet to play a full match since losing to Danielle Collins at the US Open, and she’s only played in 11 tournaments in 2022.

Osaka consistently opens up about her mental health and how it’s changed her relationship with the sport. After the 2021 US Open, she shared with reporters that tennis was no longer a source of joy for her and proceeded to take a short break. She did return for the 2022 season.

After acquiring multiple partnerships and sponsorships throughout her career, Osaka is still the highest-paid female athlete according to Forbes. She started her own skincare brand Kinlò Skin, which specializes in suncare, and launched a talent agency with her agent Stuart Duguid.

Osaka received many congratulations from several former players including Kim Clijsters and Billie Jean King. She plans to return to the Australia Open in 2024.